19th Annual Conference on Crimes Against Women

The Conference on Crimes Against Women (CCAW) is an annual in-person conference that convenes the leading experts from across the country to educate and train first responders and community stakeholders on best practices regarding the identification, investigation and prosecution of crimes against women. Offering more than 200 workshops, case studies and hands-on computer labs, CCAW creates an interactive learning experience for professionals to help them best serve women in need of their support.

Join RTI at CCAW

Evolve to Solve: Analyzing Lessons Learned in Implementing Law Enforcement-based Victim Services

May 22 | 8:00 - 9:30 AM CT

Presenters:

• Paige Presler-Jur, RTI International
• Jesenia Alonso, International Association of Chiefs of Police
• Shelby Hobson, Fort Worth Police Department
• Melissa M. Padilla, Fort Worth Police Department

Description: 

RTI International and the International Association of Chiefs of Police conducted a formative evaluation of the LEV Program, which aims to provide foundational knowledge of law enforcement-based victim services and move the field closer to identifying best practices to provide victim-centered and trauma-informed assistance and support. 

This presentation will share what we learned through in-depth interviews with victim advocates, law enforcement officers, community-based partners, and other stakeholders in nine diverse LEV programs with varied approaches to victim service provision. We will highlight promising practices across programs like the importance of and methods for securing buy-in, strategies for collaboration and coordination across law enforcement and external partners, and approaches to identify and support victims’ needs. The presentation will also spotlight the Fort Worth Police Department’s (FWPD) LEV Program designed to enhance their victim service unit by focusing specifically on an underserved, primarily Spanish-speaking community. The FWPD LEV Program (referred to as the Northwest Intimate Partner Violence project) has allowed the FWPD Victim Service Unit to breakdown cultural barriers around intimate partner violence, increase access to services for underserved victims, and enhance relationships with neighborhood patrol districts.